The fate of the first Test between hosts Pakistan and England will be decided on Thursday after the outbreak of viral infection in the visitor’s camp.

The decision was released by the Pakistan Cricket Board in a press release, which states that both the PCB and England and Wales Cricket Board have unanimously agreed to delay the decision on the commencement of the first Test, which is due to start on December 01, until 0730 Pakistan time tomorrow (Thursday).

The two boards made the decision based on medical advice from the England doctors.

According to the doctors, the England cricket team is able to select an XI for the first of the three ICC World Test Championship matches, which will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The two boards also agreed, subject to the England players not recovering well enough to take the field on Thursday morning, than the Test will commence on Friday and will be a five-day match, read the statement.

“In such scenario, the schedule of the second Test in Multan and the third Test in Karachi will remain unaffected and will be played as per original schedule i.e. 9-13 and 17-21 December, respectively,” it concluded.

Several England players, including skipper Ben Stokes, were affected by a virus on the eve of their opening Test, senior batsman Joe Root confirmed on Wednesday.

“As far as I’m aware, a few guys are not feeling 100%,” Root told a news conference. “I didn’t feel great yesterday and I woke up a lot better today. So hopefully it’s a 24-hour virus.

“Don’t think it’s like food poisoning or COVID or anything like that. I think it’s one of those things which we unfortunately picked up as a group.